Letter to Senator John F. Kerry, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy, regarding the hearing on the GPO and WEP

11/06/2007

6 November 2007

The Honorable John F. Kerry
Chairman
Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy
Committee on Finance
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Mr. Chairman,

I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to thank you for holding a hearing entitled "GPO and WEP: Policies Affecting Pensions from Work Not Covered by Social Security."

As a cosponsor of S. 206, the "Social Security Fairness Act," which would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) provision in current law, you know how important this issue is to public employees. We believe, as you do, that this is an issue of fairness. Law enforcement officers, who retire earlier than most other government employees and often begin second careers which require them to pay into the Social Security system, are disproportionately affected by current Social Security law. These officers, who served their communities and put themselves in harm's way for our nation's citizens, find themselves facing a reduction in benefits to which they are entitled. This is not fair to these brave men and women.

I have included here written testimony that I respectfully request be included in the hearing record. It is my hope that you will exercise your authority as Chairman and let the Subcommittee have a vote on this issue. Rest assured that the FOP will do everything it can to support you in moving this bill forward.

On behalf of the more than 325,000 members of the FOP, thank you again for holding this hearing and for your support of S. 206. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco through my Washington office.